CFDA Awards 2011: A great night for British fashion as Phoebe Philo and the Telegraph's Hilary Alexander honoured in New York

Top honours for Marc Jacobs, Lady Gaga, Phoebe Philo and the Telegraph's Hilary Alexander at the 2011 CFDA Awards.

BY Melissa Whitworth |
07 June 2011

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Other than Lady Gaga, the big star at the CFDA Awards last night was the Telegraph's Hilary Alexander. Leading the charge for British fashion alongside Phoebe Philo, who was also honoured at the "fashion Oscars", she was presented with the special Eugenia Sheppard Media Award. On the red carpet, Alexander wore her trademark riot of colours and textures, accessorised with a Masai tribal necklace.

Diane von Furstenberg, who serves as the Council of Fashion Designers of America's president, paid tribute to the Telegraph's long-serving Fashion Director as an "incredible force", adding that "the CFDA is now a brand." Olivier Theyskens said Alexander had "always been there" for him. Michael Kors who presented Alexander with her award called her "unsinkable."

On stage, Alexander, who wore glitter in her hair, announced that she was still clutching her reporters' notebook. "It is terribly hard to prise a fashion journalist from her notebook. It might require surgical intervention.

"I am hugely honoured and feel I am accepting this award on behalf of the entire British fashion industry."

She signed off her speech by saying she would use the heavy trophy as a weight to work out with, to stave off "bingo wings."

It was a night brimming with of the greatest figures on the fashion scene. Phoebe Philo, the head of design house Céline, accepted the International Award presented to her by Kanye West - who wore velvet slippers embellished with crystals.

Arriving 20 minutes late for the ceremony, Lady Gaga wore a black mesh Thierry Mugler gown with a train, a turquoise bob and 12-inch platform boots. The skirt was detachable, and revealed a thong encrusted with a row of metal spikes. She was honoured with the Fashion Icon Award, saying in an emotional acceptance speech: "Fashion made me feel like a star before I was [one].

"I used to save up my money to buy Mugler vintage archive. I used to save up all my money. I had to have it. That's really what fashion is all about for me. I already felt like I had made it before I had made it. All of you made me feel like a star before I was. Thank you for believing in me."

She thanked the photographers she's worked with including Steven Klein and Mario Testino for making her look beautiful, when others didn't appreciate or understand her style.

Marc Jacobs won the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, at the age of just 48. Visibly moved, he accepted the award by paying tribute to his partner of 27 years, Robert Duffy and the team behind Marc Jacobs. "I can't imagine a more incredible group of people to work with," he said. Asked how Jacobs felt backstage, he replied: "very fuzzy and warm".

But there was no denying that Lady Gaga was the one star who could get the fashion crowd all of a dither. She was the name on everyone's lips for the night. There were screams as she arrived and then a hushed silence as the star made her way into the ceremony - as A-listers and fashion types parted to make way. How would you dress Lady Gaga for the red carpet? Jason Wu was asked. "I would probably put her in normal clothes," he said, "Just to really shock everyone."